talking with mechanic?

scruffboy · 04-17-2007, 03:12 PM

I spoke with this guy today, and he says he's done a lot of head gaskets. I would just like to see my engine broke down and get an idea of whats there, he said he had no problem with that. As for coolant lines and vacuum lines, I have changed a lot of those myself, at least what I could get to. This guy is in a wheelchair, but he has an exellent assitant, and he can also pull himself up and lean over to get at stuff. he uses a mat on the fender. I give him credit for that alone, not many people in a wheelchair are mechanics.

IHateHacks · 04-17-2007, 04:08 PM

Sounds like you have found a pretty good mechanic. In a wheelchair? Now that takes some determination.

The coolant and vacuum lines I am talking about are underneath the intake manifold, can't get to them unless the whole intake manifold is off. And also the 2, 90 degree coolant lines at the rear of the engine and under the water outlet housing which you can't replace unless the head is taken off. There are probably a dozen hoses that will be so dried and stiff that they will crack when trying to take them off. And at $20-$30 a pop they add up quick, about $250 just in little coolant and vacuum lines.

This mechanic probably knows this already but make sure he replaces the fuel injector insulators and O-rings. The insulators are the rubber seals that seal the injector to the head. It's little parts like this that add up quick. I'm not just pulling a number out of my ass when I say $600 in parts. I have the receipts to prove it.

Monkey · 04-18-2007, 03:03 AM

600-800 is right on the money, because Alldata calls for 9 hours to replace the head gasket on an 89 supra n/a, and my shop labor rate is 65/hr. That's not including the price for parts, so, that's about right. I've been a mechanic for about 10 years, off and on, and 5 years solid, ever since i got out of the navy.

04-17-2007, 03:12 PM	#1
scruffboy walbro fp Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Kearny, New Jersey, USA Posts: 427	Thanks Ihatehacks I spoke with this guy today, and he says he's done a lot of head gaskets. I would just like to see my engine broke down and get an idea of whats there, he said he had no problem with that. As for coolant lines and vacuum lines, I have changed a lot of those myself, at least what I could get to. This guy is in a wheelchair, but he has an exellent assitant, and he can also pull himself up and lean over to get at stuff. he uses a mat on the fender. I give him credit for that alone, not many people in a wheelchair are mechanics.

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04-17-2007, 04:08 PM	#2
IHateHacks 20psi boost Join Date: May 2006 Location: New Haven/Hamden Posts: 793	Sounds like you have found a pretty good mechanic. In a wheelchair? Now that takes some determination. The coolant and vacuum lines I am talking about are underneath the intake manifold, can't get to them unless the whole intake manifold is off. And also the 2, 90 degree coolant lines at the rear of the engine and under the water outlet housing which you can't replace unless the head is taken off. There are probably a dozen hoses that will be so dried and stiff that they will crack when trying to take them off. And at $20-$30 a pop they add up quick, about $250 just in little coolant and vacuum lines. This mechanic probably knows this already but make sure he replaces the fuel injector insulators and O-rings. The insulators are the rubber seals that seal the injector to the head. It's little parts like this that add up quick. I'm not just pulling a number out of my ass when I say $600 in parts. I have the receipts to prove it.

04-18-2007, 03:03 AM	#3
Monkey 3" Exhaust Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Madison, MS. Posts: 51	600-800 is right on the money, because Alldata calls for 9 hours to replace the head gasket on an 89 supra n/a, and my shop labor rate is 65/hr. That's not including the price for parts, so, that's about right. I've been a mechanic for about 10 years, off and on, and 5 years solid, ever since i got out of the navy.